Your Voice from the Dalmatian Heartland
Forget Lisbon. Forget Bali. A growing number of American remote workers are trading overpriced co-working spaces for olive groves and stone-walled cafés in Benkovac, a Dalmatian town most people can't find on a map — yet. We talked to a few of them to find out what the fuss is about.
Most Americans who think about Croatian history picture Dubrovnik's walls or Split's Roman palace. But a few miles inland, the town of Benkovac holds a story that's older, stranger, and in many ways more revealing — one that touches empires, resilience, and a cultural identity that refused to be erased. Here's why it matters.
Something unexpected is happening on Spotify playlists and Apple Music queues across the United States — Croatian and Dalmatian folk music is showing up, and people are staying for it. We dig into what's driving the moment, spotlight the musicians and sounds coming out of the Benkovac region, and ask why this raw, ancient music is hitting so hard in 2024.
Benkovac's culinary traditions — built on lamb, olive oil, wild herbs, and the slow patience of stone-country cooking — are quietly making their way into American kitchens and restaurants. We talked to diaspora cooks and chefs who are keeping these flavors alive, one skillet of peka at a time. Here's what's on the table.